According to the Gospels, when Elizabeth heard Mary's greetings, the child shouted with joy in her womb and she felt overrun by the Holy Spirit. The picture is filled by the sensation of that moment, and by the movedness of the two graceful, almost floating women. Nor Mary's kerchief is floated by the wind: it is a typical mood-describing pattern of the age. It reveals the woman's golden hair, symbol of the innocent, clear beauty.

The remarkably big iris, peony and wild strawberry in the foreground refer to the events of the passion.

The present gold background was for a while covered with a blue, and later with another gold layer of painting. The landscape background, which speaks of the influence of the Danube School, also refers back to the main scene in its mood and meaning. Certain elements of that can also be found in the passion scenes. It is not meant to be a naturesque representation and is separated from the main scene by its scale.